Mission Journal: Somaliland's press harassed, disappointed

"I'm free but I don't feel free," said Mohamed Abdi Urad,
chief editor of Yool, a critical
weekly published in the semi-autonomous republic of Somaliland. Mohamed had
just been released on May 22 after a week in detention at Hargeisa Central
Police Station. His crime?
"I have no idea," he said. Mohamed had attempted to cover a deadly skirmish
between civilians and a military unit over a land dispute in the eastern part
of the capital, Hargeisa. "The Interior Minister just saw me walking towards
the scene and ordered his men to arrest me," he said. A few days later, police
released Mohamed unconditionally and without charge.

Arbitrary
arrests and other forms of intimidation have become the order of the day for
Somaliland's press. Although they had hopes for greater media freedom under the
leadership of President Ahmed Mohamoud Silyano, who was elected
in June 2010, conditions have deteriorated under his government to the worst
levels since Somaliland declared itself an independent republic in 1991, local
journalists told me.

"Many journalists wore blindfolds when Silyano came to
power," said BBC reporter Jamal Abdi. Most media supported Silyano's election
bid, having grown tired of former President Dahir Riyale, who had delayed
elections for three years and whose final years were mired in corruption, local
journalists said. "We were all desperate for change," said Abdiweli Farah,
chief editor of independent weekly Ogaal. "We also remember what they said during
the election campaigns--that they would push to allow more independence in the
media, improve freedom of expression, etc.--but things only got worse."

This year marks the heaviest crackdown
that Somaliland's fledgling independent press has experienced, according to Mohamed
Rashid, secretary-general of the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA).
Authorities have arrested and temporarily detained nearly 60 journalists so far
this year, all without charge, according to SOLJA and CPJ research.

The worst
incident in terms of number occurred in January, after police arbitrarily
shuttered the independent broadcaster Horn Cable
TV and arrested 22 journalists shortly afterwards for protesting the
closure. "We were covering the president's annual address to parliament and in
the conclusion of the speech our station was somehow called 'enemies of the
state. We were all surprised," said Horn Cable's owner and director, Farhan Ali
Ahmed. Six hours after the president's speech, police raided Horn Cable's two
offices and closed the station for two days without explanation. Some journalists
in custody who protested the closure were beaten, according to SOLJA's Rashid
and international news reports.

"After that incident it became evident to us that arrests
can happen any time under the new ruling party. But we are still doing our
regular reporting despite the risks," Farhan said.

Many local journalists do not blame the ruling "Kulmiye" (Peace and Unity) party as a whole but
individuals within the government who target the press with impunity. "The
previous government followed the constitution to a degree--they would not
arrest without a warrant, for instance," Farhan said. "But this government has
some uneducated members who do not think of the consequences of their actions
and cannot accept criticism." Whether unknowingly or otherwise, many government
officials ignore their own laws and detain critical journalists, says the director
of the Somaliland Lawyers Association, Mohamed Said Hersi. "Even the governor
of Hargeisa along with elders was detained for over a month without charge
despite a 48-hour detention limit by Somaliland law," Mohamed said. A SOLJA
investigation discovered that no courtroom in Somaliland except for those based
in the capital Hargeisa even had a copy of Somaliland's 2004 media law. "Thus
journalists are automatically arrested under the penal code, ignoring the press
law completely," said executive SOLJA member and BBC reporter Barkhad Kaariye.

In the restive border town Las
Anod, tension between separatist movements has led to further suppression
of the press. In this disputed region between Somaliland and the
semi-autonomous region of Puntland, residents claim different
affiliations--with Somaliland, Puntland, and even a self-declared separatist
state of Khatumo, according to local reports. Reporting on the succession
movements can lead to imprisonment, with at least eight journalists arrested in
Las Anod since April, according to CPJ research. "It is a very remote region
where unfortunately the governor does whatever he wants," said Deputy Parliament
Speaker Baashe M. Farah, who also comes from the disputed region.

Many local journalists concede that the government crackdown
on the press is partly rooted in the unprofessional practices of the media. Websites
in particular, local journalists told me, are prone to professional lapses
since many are launched and managed by one individual. "The media is often very
new, inexperienced and unprofessional--especially in politically sensitive
areas such as Las Anod and Borama,"
Presidential Spokesman Abdullahi Mohamed said. Journalists often report on
government corruption issues with no sources to support their claims and their
stories are designed to sell newspapers rather than uncover genuine
malpractice, the deputy speaker added. "It's a Somali tradition." Farah said.
"The public wants dirt on ministers--they will look at the headlines and if
there is no dirt to be read, they won't buy the publication. So it behooves the
press to act like a tabloid." Chief Editor Mohamed Abdi Jama of the critical
weekly Waheen
concedes that unprofessional standards have partly triggered the animosity
between Somaliland's government and press. "But what is worse--a press that
makes mistakes and does not follow best practices or a government that does not
follow its own rules?" he said.

While many journalists admit a lack of professionalism is a
problem, government officials also concede that they need to change their
approach towards the press. "Really, all these attacks against the press is not
good for any journalist and it is not good for the country," said recently
appointed Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf. "At the same time, journalists
need to understand their trade--what is an insult and what is libelous and what
not."

The information minister also told CPJ that the government
plans to enact a long-awaited broadcast law to allow private radio
broadcasters. "I already have around six or seven applicants for a radio
license on my desk and have discussed the matter with the speaker," he said. In
2002, Somaliland issued a ministerial decree banning all
private radio stations, allowing only state-run Radio Hargeisa to operate. The
station covers only a 40 kilometer (25 mile) range and often airs pro-government,
poor quality coverage, local journalists said. "There is a reason the
government allows television but not radio," Horn Cable TV owner Farhan said.
"TV does not have the same reach radio stations would have--they fear a
vernacular radio. We would be the first to apply if they allowed private radio
stations." Ahmed Kijandhe, head of a parliamentary sub-committee that will
review the bill, told CPJ the committee plans to hold a consultative meeting
with the press over the broadcast bill and table it in June.

The lack of private radio stations explains why Somaliland
has several newspapers and a high number of television stations compared with
Somalia and Puntland. There are about 10 newspapers, three government-owned, and
four TV broadcasters.

Despite the arrests and harassment against the independent
press this year, some local journalists are encouraged. "The public is waking
up, they want us to continue," said Mohamed Abdi Jama. "These days the public
asks us to write stories to push the government. At Gebbele River, for
instance, citizens wanted sand placed on the road to stop flooding. So citizens
called us up and asked us to write something to get a government reaction." And
while private radio stations are still not allowed, a plethora of news websites
has emerged, despite low Internet penetration rates. "I am convinced websites
will make the biggest change to Somaliland society," said Information Minister
Yusuf.

Tom Rhodes is CPJ's East Africa representative, based in Nairobi. Rhodes is a founder of southern Sudan’s first independent newspaper. Follow him on Twitter: @africamedia_CPJ

Comments

Hello,

I read your article with interest. I found your reporting quite unbalanced since it seems you are not reporting on the crackdown at Puntland. Please consider reporting on the murders of Journalist at Mogadishu or Puntland. Somaliland and Somalia are tribal society so if you are lsitenening from only one side then you need to broaden your reporting. Just a suggestion. I suggest you visit Garawe Puntalnd and see if you can even do any reporting. I also believe that press freedom is critical and Somaliland government should respect press freedon.

In reading your article was very disappointed by your organisation's lack real investigation into the matter of freedom of press in the region. Often times NGO's such as yours, speak out of injustices in the region but are reluctant to go outside of Hargeisa to see the problem behind the curtain. Your article is a prime example of such ineffeciencies in reporting human rights issues.

On February 25, a journalist from Borama Maxamed C/raxmaan Ismaaciil was arrested and beaten to a pulp because of what he reported on a news website. In Syria,Lybia,Egypt, such media are called citizen journalism but in Somaliland they are tabloids. Whatever the case, no one deserves to be beaten to death.

He is just one example of many others. The next time you want to report an issue, ask the people on the ground...outside of Hargeisa.

I can appreciate your concerns --NGOs tend to focus too much on Hargeisa and ignore the rest of the country. This is one reason why I traveled to Berbera during this trip. The situation in Borama and Las Anod is certainly very worrying as you noted and plan to visit these towns in the future. I will certainly ask for your advice if you are actually based in Borama.

I just read the open letter to the President. All I can say is thank you and I hope you understand my frustration. Borama is a lovely, peaceful town but there are a lot of abuses of rigths and repression. Please don't be afraid to visit.

I am not in Borama but I can get you contact with people on the ground. Just let me know. I think you can find my email address.